The “Worst Roads” effect: Repaving Quebec one vote at a time for the past 9 years

Press releases
Published on April 2, 2024

The mild winter we just had has done nothing to improve the potholes on the province’s major roads. At a time of year when potholes are popping up again everywhere in droves, CAA-Quebec is launching its annual Worst Roads campaign to invite all road users to vote and highlight the importance of maintaining our infrastructure—some parts of which clearly need attention more urgently than others.  

For our 9th campaign, all road users are invited to vote online from today until April 23, 2024. Once the campaign wraps up, CAA-Quebec will draw up its famous list of winners and get in touch with the relevant municipalities and Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable.    

 
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“We’re proud to be launching our 9th campaign. Since the beginning, it’s had a concrete impact. And although there’s still a lot of work to do, Worst Roads gives road users the opportunity to make their voices heard and help improve the road network.”

- Sophie Gagnon, Vice President, Public Affairs and Social Responsibility

Many roads repaired over 9 campaigns

Despite the still-deplorable state of a number of roads in the province, the Worst Roads campaign has definitely produced concrete results in Quebec since its inception. In fact, more and more roads have been completely redone over the years—after making the infamous list of Worst Roads winners.

To name but a handful: Boulevard de la Gappe in Gatineau, Boulevard Gouin in Montréal, Avenue Gourdeau in Saint-Agapit, Chemin Craig in Lévis, and Traverse de Laval in Lac-Beauport. Over $13 million has been invested in these roads alone.

According to a 2021 CAA study, poor road conditions cost Quebecers an average of $258 per vehicle per year, compared to the Canadian average of $126.

How much does it cost to drive over a pothole?

Damaging your vehicle in a pothole can be very expensive. But if your bill is $1,000 or less, CAA-Quebec recommends not contacting your insurer. The potential premium increase and resulting blemish on your file are simply not worth it. By the numbers, here’s the list of the most frequently broken parts and their replacement cost, not including labour:

  • Tire: $150 to $350
  • Steel wheel: $100
  • Alloy wheel: $600
  • Control arm: $200 to $400
  • Steering rod: $100 to $250
  • Shock absorber: $200 to $400
  • Strut: $200 to $400
  • Suspension ball joint: $150 to $300
  • Wheel alignment: $100 to $200

About CAA-Québec

CAA-Quebec offers a wide range of assistance services in a wide variety of sectors, drawing on a human approach. As a socially committed organization, CAA-Quebec strives on a daily basis to protect the interests of its members. And in keeping with its values of reliability and benevolence, it fosters responsible consumption and promotes road safety.

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